Assessment in loesses’ intensity gleying northwest black sea region of Ukraine

Abstract

To qualitatively and quantitatively assess the intensity of gleying loesses in the depression morphostructures a ferrous module which is the ratio of FeO to Fe₂O₃, is most often used. But it is not quite correct and reliable. Its main drawback is that colloid compounds of ferrous iron formed by excess wetting are very unstable and quickly oxidize.

According to the results obtained in the course of complex research on the bearing sites of the Northwest Black Sea region micro- and petrogenic components in gleying loesses were marked. The main rock-forming minerals and chemical elements in the hydromorphic gleying soils, in the rocks of a transition zone and in the woods have been determined. In order to characterize the composition of macrocomponental gleying loess soils we defined the rows of chemical elements and petrogenic components of loess rocks. The contours of the depressional morphosculptures revealed both positive and negative low-contrast half-elemental geochemical anomalies. The best way to highlight these anomalies is to use multiplicative indexes and coefficients. These geochemical indicators and petrogenic coefficients are formed on the basis of major components series and chemical elements. Indicators and ratios are calculated both for individual samples, and for average concentrations of chemical elements in loess stratum, the transition zone and gleying loess soils in the saucers contours.

The rows of chemical elements reflecting the relative migration intensity or accumulation in the process of gleying loesses were received. Chemical elements’ behaviour which are contrast by their properties was characterized. Migration of chemical elements and their concentration in the geological bodies of gleying was studied.

New principles and characteristics of gleying loesses intensity qualitative and quantitative assessment have been developed.